目標設定理論(goal setting theory) 是一探討目標與工作表現關係的理論，此理論認為，對個體而言，1 )有目標時的工作表現量會比沒有目標時佳。( 2 )困難的目標，只要能被受試所接受，其工作表現量較容易的目標佳。( 3 )有清楚明確目標時的工作表現量較只有模糊目標或沒有目標時佳。本研究的目的即在以實驗法進一步探討與澄清目標設定理論的主要概念，並討論目標設定對工作表現變異量的影響。
本研究以國立政治大學學生120名為受試，其中男性61名，女性59名，採用2 X 2 X 2 三因子實驗設計。自變項為目標難度(基準線以下或基準線以上)、目標明確度(模糊目標或明確目標)及回饋明確度(模糊回饋或明確回饋)；再加上兩個不設定目標的控制組， 一共十個實驗情境。以受試在文書校對測驗上答對的題數為工作表現的指標，探討不同組受試問在工作表現量、工作表現變異量及受試主觀設定目標值上的差異。
結果發現：( 1 )對工作表現量而言，只有當目標難度高於基準線時，有設定目標組的工作表現才會比不設定目標組好；當目標難度高於基準練時，受試的工作表現比目標難度低於基準線時好；明確目標只有在和基準線以上目標一同出現時，工作表現才會比模糊目標好。( 2 )目標難度、明確度及回饋明確度均不會影響受試工作表現變異量。( 3 )對受試主觀設定目標值而言，基準線以上目標組受試的主觀設定目標值高於基準線以下目標組；明確、基準線以上組之主觀設定目標值大於明確基準線以下組、模糊基準線以下組及無目標組。最後，在討論中將說明此一結果所顯示的意義，並檢討在研究與實驗過程中可能產生的一些偏差，以及提出一些建議供後續研究者參考。

汪孝慈(民7 8 )目標認定方式與目標預期差異對認知與工作表現之影響。國立政治大學心理研究所碩士論文。
林清山(民6 5 ) 心理與教育統計學，東華書局。
林清山(民6 9 ) 多變量分析統計法，東草書局。
林文蘭(民7 8 )不同訊息的目標設定對內在動機的影響。國立政治大
學心理研究所碩士論文。
胡秉正多元性向測驗。
裘友善(民7 5 )目標難度對工作表現的影響。國立師範大學教育研究所博士論文。
盛揚翼(民7 8 )比較目標設定理論與期望理論對工作表現之解釋力。
國立政治大學心理研究所碩士論文。

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